BRIEFS

County Council plans ECHO workshop July 16
The Volusia County Council will hold a workshop to discuss the Volusia ECHO program at 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 16, at the Lifeguard Headquarters and Administration Center, 515 S. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach.

Members will review input from community listening sessions in May and June that gave residents an opportunity to comment about the program’s future.

Public participation will be welcomed at the end of the meeting.

For more information, call the County Manager’s office at 386-736-5920.

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County plans guided hikes of Hickory Bluff, Heart Island
Grab your binoculars and put on your hiking boots. Environmental specialists will lead guided hikes through two of Volusia County’s most popular conservation lands in July.

• Heart Island Conservation Area: 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, July 27. Walk through this sandhill plant community and learn about the land’s agricultural history and restoration. Meet at the conservation area’s entrance on Lake Winona Road near Barberville.

The free outdoor adventures are led by Volusia County’s Environmental Management Division. Reservations are required and may be made by contacting Bonnie Cary at bcary@volusia.org or 386-736-5927, ext. 21263.

Participants are encouraged to bring water and insect spray and wear comfortable clothes and walking or hiking shoes.

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Teens can explore ancient Egypt at Daytona Beach library July 18
Teens and ‘tweens can explore the mysteries of the Sphinx, King Tut and the pyramids at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 18, at the Daytona Beach Regional Library at City Island, 105 E. Magnolia Ave.

Librarian Kim Dolce and Library Assistant Kelly Balao will lead the free program, which is sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Snacks will be provided.

The event is part of the library’s summer teen series, “Beneath the Surface.” For more information, contact Dolce at kdolce@volusia.org or 386-257-6036, ext. 16315.

The library is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Learn about other upcoming library events at www.volusialibrary.org.

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Port Orange to conduct annual treatment of water system
The Port Orange Utilities Department will perform its annual flushing of the water distribution system beginning July 15. The treatment is done to improve water quality.

The scheduled completion date of the treatment and flushing is no later than Monday, Aug. 26. During this six-week period, the city will be changing its disinfectant residual to free chlorine. The water will be safe to drink. However, some customers may notice a slight difference in the taste of the water.

If you have any questions regarding this procedure, contact the Port Orange Water Treatment Plant at 386-506-5770. Information on the procedure can be found under the Public Utilities section of the city’s website at www.port-orange.org.

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Master gardeners to offer free learning programs
Learn how to make your garden grow during a series of free programs offered by master gardeners trained by the University of Florida/Volusia County Extension.